Governor defies Ruto on vote

The Uasin Gishu County government has broken ranks with the Jubilee leadership and joined calls for a referendum.

Governor Jackson Mandago at the weekend called for a referendum that seeks not only to increase county government funding, but also abolish the Senate.

“You have seen the laws they (senators) have since passed: Governors should not fly flags, MCAs should be called honourable…. tell me, will these laws ensure that roads are constructed?” posed Mr Mandago.

IMPEDIMENT TO DEVOLUTION
He urged residents of Uasin Gishu - Deputy President William Ruto’s home county - to support the push for a referendum because the Senate had failed to protect the Constitution and had instead become an impediment to devolution.

His calls were echoed by the county speaker, Mr Isaac Terer, who condemned the County Government Amendment Bill 2014, which will see senators chair county development boards.
‘The laws are unconstitutional, we sent them (senators) to defend devolution, not frustrate it, and if they are unable to do that, they should go home,” said Mr Terer.

Mr Terer further said it would be undermining devolution if chief executives of counties were reduced to secretaries yet they were elected to oversee development of counties.
The president signed the Bill into law last Wednesday.

But governors have moved to court to seek an interpretation on the law which they claim, violates the Constitution.

The two leaders were addressing residents in Ainabkoi constituency during the unveiling of a school bus at Bishop Birech Secondary School.
Separately, Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki and two ODM MPs from Meru have rejected the calls for a national referendum.

Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi and his Igembe Central counterpart Kubai Kiringo said it was too early to demand changes to the Constitution.

DIFFICULT TIME

Speaking yesterday at Laare during a visit by Deputy President William Ruto, the two MPs said the country was going through a difficult time and all leaders should close ranks.

Mr Aburi said: “I want to ask my party leader and friend Raila Odinga to shelve the calls for a referendum so that the country can move forward.”

Prof Kindiki accused the opposition of keeping the country in a constant state of politicking.

“Kenya is not ready for a referendum. Bringing such an agenda at this time is trying to disrupt the government’s development agenda,” said Prof Kindiki.